Tyr-Gwyr-Gweryn

The Cornish National Minority Report

This page looks at what others propose to do to challenge
the repressive nature of the United Kingdom Government
towards Cornish Rights.
United we Stand! Divided we Fall!

Details of a letter received regarding proposals to prepare a Report for an appeal to the Council of Europe against the United Kingdom Government's rejection of the Cornish people as a 'national minority'.

A REPORT
to the
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
on the
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES
Preparing for Cornwall's future
As Cornwall prepares to enter the new millennium confronting perhaps her greatest challenge, to regenerate the economy and address chronic deprivation, there is much that is positive and exciting about modern Cornwall to give us cause for hope. It is now recognised that Cornish identity and culture are at the core of the great effort to invigorate our economy and promote our wares.
UK ratifies new Convention
Recently, the UK Government ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and has now published its Report of Compliance. The Convention sets out a range of Articles which aim to:
'create a climate of tolerance and dialogue necessary to enable cultural diversity to be a source and a factor, not of division, but of enrichment for each society'.

UK Compliance Report rejects Cornish
The UK Compliance Report rejects representations made by various Cornish organisations seeking recognition of the Cornish as a 'national minority', saying that the Government is
'not aware of any rights granted under the Convention which are being denied to any individual in Cornwall'.
The Welsh, Scots and Irish are recognised by the Government as 'national minorities'.
Right of Appeal
A right of Appeal exists for groups and individuals which feel unfairly treated by their Government's Compliance Report. We wish to commission a report which will form the basis of an appeal to the Council of Europe to support the recognition of the Cornish as a 'national minority'. This report should be a well researched, fully referenced analysis of the position of the Cornish people in relation to the Articles of the Framework Convention.
The benefits of achieving recognition:

· Equality of opportunity with other minorities

· Boosting self-confidence of a significant minority in one of the most deprived areas of Britain
· Freeing resources for cultural and social development

· Changing the Cornish outlook via recognition of identity,
raising 'the burden of complaint', putting right an ancient wrong.

· Celebrating and valuing an important, indigenous people of the multi-cultural Britain of tomorrow

The UK Compliance Report says:
'If children feel that their cultural and religious identity is being acknowledged they are more likely to be happy and successful in school'.
The same may be said of all people in society.
Investing in Cornish identity
In order to make the best report possible and to secure an open acknowledgement of what most Cornish people carry within them - identity - we need to raise funds. We are applying to the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust for support. However, in order to meet the costs of the Report's Author, Bernard Deacon, and his research assistant, to Publish and to present the Report and, if necessary support it in any Hearing of the relevant Advisory Committee, we are launching a public appeal.
The following appeal is no longer relevant!
We hope that you will consider making a donation to support this historic and forward-looking initiative. Time is, as always, moving fast! The Report must be complete and presented by mid-November 1999. In all we need to raise Ł5000 - if 100 people give Ł50 each, we have achieved our target. Please be as generous as you can. Cheques should be made payable to:
"The Cornish National Minority Report'
and sent to: Mr. Bert Biscoe, 3, Rosewin Row, TRURO TR1 1EN., Kernow GB.
Donations will be acknowledgement in the Report unless donors wish to remain anonymous.
[ I would be grateful if, when responding, you would please say where you saw this appeal. ]
Signatories
Ann Trevenen Jenkin - Grand Bard, Gorseth Kernow
Graham Sandercock - Chairman: Cornish Language Board & Cornish Language Fellowship
Dr. Philip Payton - Director: Institute of Cornish Studies
Mark Kaczmarek - Chairman: Cornish Solidarity
Alastair Quinnell - CC : Keskerdh Kernow
Colin Lawry - CC : Mebyon Kernow
J N Plummer - CC
Bert Biscoe - CC
Paul T Holmes - CC
The Human Rights Directorate are waiting for all Compliance Reports to be received before their review of the reports. Please take this available time to write in support of Cornish Rights.

In order to support the actions of the "Cornish National Minority Report", "TGG" has sent all its documentation, as submitted to, and ignored by, the United Kingdom Home Office - Racial Equality Unit with the request that the Council of Europe intercedes on behalf of the Cornish people.
Anyone else wishing to support this Cornish Cause are invited to write also to:
Mr. A Korkeakivi,
Minorities Unit,
Human Rights Directorate,
Council of Europe,
F-67075 STRASBOURG,
CEDEX,
FRANCE.
tel: 33 (0)388 412956
fax: 33 (0)388 412793

I was delighted to receive a copy of the Report "The Cornish and the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities". A most excellent publication and presentation! Our congratulations and thanks must be extended to all those who have directly, or indirectly, made such a report possible. The hope must be that it is given serious consideration by the Advisory Committee scrutinising the UK's flawed compliance with the Framework Convention protocols. It is a long overdue presentation of the Cornish Case which hitherto had no place to go within the sham democracy of the Imperial English Oligarchy.

I have taken the liberty of quoting below the conclusions and final summary of the Report. The full copy of the Cornish National Minority Report may be viewed at http://www.biggraham.co.uk:80/CNMR/index.htm

11. Conclusion

11.1 In this report we have noted that Cornwall 's history provides evidence that the Cornish possess a distinct national identity within the UK within the terms of the definition of 'national minority' offered by the UK Government in paragraph 2 of its Compliance Report, We have also noted that, in practice, the Cornish perceive themselves, and are perceived by others, as a distinct group, one that possesses the characteristics most independent academic opinion would describe as typical of an ethnic group or ethnic community. We have also provided a preliminary audit of the patterns that can be mapped across the ethnic divide in Cornwall. Structural divisions in the labour and housing markets have been exacerbated by a major class-selective in-migration flow since the 1960s. As a result there is an ethnic dimension to day-to-day life that is not found in England and is more reminiscent of parts of Wales.

11.2 However, the research on issues of discrimination is fragmentary and partial. One study concludes that "whilst there is evidence to suggest that the indigenous Cornish suffer discrimination... surprisingly little research has been conducted in this area" (Williams and Harrison, 1995, 190 and 193). Two things are urgently required. First, there needs to be comprehensive ethnic monitoring in order to assess whether participation in social and public life in Cornwall is equally available to all groups. Second, there is a need for properly funded research to explore the preliminary conclusions of this report and other surveys in depth. Such research could, by highlighting spatial differences in conditions within Cornwall and investigating the articulation of deprivation with ethnicity, clarify the need for more targeted initiatives that work to achieve real equality in Cornwall, for all individuals whether Cornish or non-Cornish.

Summary

- The Cornish have a historical, linguistic and cultural heritage distinct from others in the UK.

- Cornwall has unique institutions that express this difference.

- Some Cornish people feel they are part of a nation.

- Outsiders perceive Cornwall and its people as different.

- The Cornish have poorer access to housing and jobs, lower levels of income and wealth and higher levels of deprivation than the English in Cornwall.

- Media and educational institutions either reproduce negative images of the Cornish people or ignore its distinct culture and history.

These pages will continue to be updated as and when there is some titbit to keep you informed of progress. A joint statement to the delegation of the Advisory Committee on 4th June will be included here shortly. Navigation will also soon be added to this page to point to specific items.

Please use link button in left hand index panel of 'Cornish Nation' pages
to see related reports and correspondence regarding the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Are you lost? Go to Main Index and Home Page

·	Equality of opportunity with other minorities
·	Boosting self-confidence of a significant minority in one of the most deprived areas of Britain
·	Freeing resources for cultural and social development
·	Changing the Cornish outlook via recognition of identity, raising 'the burden of complaint', putting right an ancient wrong.
·	Celebrating and valuing an important, indigenous people of the multi-cultural Britain of tomorrow

11.	Conclusion
11.1	In this report we have noted that Cornwall 's history provides evidence that the Cornish possess a distinct national identity within the UK within the terms of the definition of 'national minority' offered by the UK Government in paragraph 2 of its Compliance Report, We have also noted that, in practice, the Cornish perceive themselves, and are perceived by others, as a distinct group, one that possesses the characteristics most independent academic opinion would describe as typical of an ethnic group or ethnic community. We have also provided a preliminary audit of the patterns that can be mapped across the ethnic divide in Cornwall. Structural divisions in the labour and housing markets have been exacerbated by a major class-selective in-migration flow since the 1960s. As a result there is an ethnic dimension to day-to-day life that is not found in England and is more reminiscent of parts of Wales.
11.2	However, the research on issues of discrimination is fragmentary and partial. One study concludes that "whilst there is evidence to suggest that the indigenous Cornish suffer discrimination... surprisingly little research has been conducted in this area" (Williams and Harrison, 1995, 190 and 193). Two things are urgently required. First, there needs to be comprehensive ethnic monitoring in order to assess whether participation in social and public life in Cornwall is equally available to all groups. Second, there is a need for properly funded research to explore the preliminary conclusions of this report and other surveys in depth. Such research could, by highlighting spatial differences in conditions within Cornwall and investigating the articulation of deprivation with ethnicity, clarify the need for more targeted initiatives that work to achieve real equality in Cornwall, for all individuals whether Cornish or non-Cornish.
Summary
-	The Cornish have a historical, linguistic and cultural heritage distinct from others in the UK.
-	Cornwall has unique institutions that express this difference.
-	Some Cornish people feel they are part of a nation.
-	Outsiders perceive Cornwall and its people as different.
-	The Cornish have poorer access to housing and jobs, lower levels of income and wealth and higher levels of deprivation than the English in Cornwall.
-	Media and educational institutions either reproduce negative images of the Cornish people or ignore its distinct culture and history.